Robert McLaws: Windows Edition : Media Center, Service Packs, Windows 7http://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/tags/Media+Center/Service+Packs/Windows+7/default.aspxTags: Media Center, Service Packs, Windows 7enCommunityServer 2008 SP2 (Build: 31104.93)Changes Needed for Media Center in Windows 7 SP1http://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/changes-needed-for-media-center-in-windows-7-sp1.aspxTue, 13 Oct 2009 21:08:05 GMT20f58a17-7e15-440c-89b3-dfe02fe74bcd:49025Robert McLaws8http://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=49025http://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/changes-needed-for-media-center-in-windows-7-sp1.aspx#comments<p>I *love* Windows Media Center. It’s my favorite part of Windows, and in Windows 7, it’s fantastic. There are a lot of improvements, and hopefully soon I’ll be able to post some of my favorite parts.</p> <p>But I just spent the last 2 hours trying to fix my Windows Media Center installation at home (tried a number of different options before I ended up rolling back using Windows Home Server), so I figured now would be the best time to talk about the improvements that WMC needs by the time the next Service Pack rolls around.</p> <p><strong>Improving Reliability <br /></strong>The WMC database is by far the most brittle aspect of Windows Media Center. For whatever reason, Microsoft decided to use a lightweight database to power the whole system. Series recordings, configuration data… you name it. It’s all stored in a DB file in C:\Windows\ehome. If that DB file is corrupted in any way, you are completely SOL.</p> <p>Such an event happened on October 2nd. I’m not the only one that <a href="http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaprograms/thread/85fb80d7-c047-4b17-b6c9-4c5665d52fd4/">experienced the issue</a>, which means Microsoft distributed corrupted Guide data. Microsoft said the only option was to re-run the initial setup, and I’m sorry but that answer is unacceptable. It takes nearly 20 minutes to run the “Configure My TV Signal” process. I shouldn’t need to configure my tuners and blast away my Recording settings in order to clear out and re-download the Guide. But that is the only option that Microsoft puts on the table.</p> <p>The Media Center needs to move the WMC database to a more robust engine that is capable of transactional rollbacks if an update fails. It also needs to store the Guide in a completely separate database file, so that Guide corruptions do not affect all of the other settings.</p> <p><strong>User Interface Changes</strong> <br />I run my Media Center in a headless configuration, because I don’t want those gigantic OCUR tuners on my entertainment center. The main problem with that setup is that I can’t run the aforementioned “Configure My TV Signal” wizard on an Extender. Whatever the technical reason for that decision is, accessibility trumps all. I shouldn’t have to lug a monitor into my office closet to configure my TV tuners.</p> <p>And while the team is improving the UI, there needs to be an option to backup and restore your Series Subscriptions without downloading a 3rd party program. ESPECIALLY if the WMC database is so brittle. Yes, I know there are free/cheap options. We’re on like the 5th iteration of the platform at this point, it’s time to start building in better options for recovering from problems.</p> <p>And finally, there needs to be a richer notification system for headless Media Centers. If the Guide won’t download, the only way to find out is to RDP into the system. While that’s not a terribly big deal, it’s not the best user experience. There should be UI for reading Media Center errors, and a queuing process for showing serious ones, for example like Windows Update restart notifications.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong> <br />Windows Media Center is a fantastic platform, and Microsoft has <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1292">pulled out all the stops</a> to give it the potential to really hit the mainstream. The next update (which unlike the TV Pack 2008, needs to be available to everyone) needs to focus on improving the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://windows-now.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=49025" width="1" height="1">Service PacksUser InterfaceDigital Cable TunersMedia CenterWindows Media CenterMedia Center ExtendersWindows 7